Can I stop paying Sky and use my satellite receiver to get Freeview ?
Yes, but only "sort of".
Freeview is the name of the (BBC-backed) digital TV system that uses hilltop transmitters to rooftop aerials. It is run separately from the "Sky" satellite-to-dish service.
free-to-VIEW is a term for satellite channels that need a viewing card to watch, but not to collect a subscription. free-to-AIR channels are ones that can be received without needing a viewing card or subscription.
The free-to-AIR satelite service backed by the BBC and ITV is called Freesat. The free-to-VIEW service operated by Sky is called fSfS or Freesat from Sky.
As long as you have finished your first year, you can leave Sky when you want.
To do this just give Sky a call and tell them you don't want to subscribe any more.
If you stop subscribing you will be able to watch the hundred or so free-to-air channels listed on free channels list. This service is called Freesat from Sky (fSfS).
Some of the channels on the Freeview service are subscription only on satellite, specifically: 4Music, Challenge, Dave, Dave ja vu, Quest, VIVA and Yesterday . See these links to compare the TV channels on Freesat-from-Sky and Freeview, and to compare radio stations on Freeview and fSfS. Many homes have free satellite and Freeview to get the full range of channels.
You will still need to keep your Sky viewing card. If you stop subscribing on a Sky contract, you can keep using that card to watch 5USA, 5* and PICK TV, the so-called "free-to-view" channels. (All ITV channels are free-to-air).
It is not possible to plug an aerial into a Sky Digibox to receive Freeview channels because the boxes have not been designed this way.
You will continue to get the full Sky EPG listings; you just will not be able to watch subscription channels.
If you want to go for High Definition, HD, you can swap out your Sky box for a Freesat one very easily.
A card is not needed to watch BBC services, but it is needed to get the correct BBC ONE and BBC TWO regions on 101 and 102.
Another option is to disconnect your Sky Digibox altogether and Upgrade from Sky to Freesat - ukfree.tv. If you have an HD-Ready TV and a standard Sky box, this is a good option.
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Michael: Thanks for that. ALISaturday 23 July 2011 11:25AM
Hi sir i am a satellite technition i need some informetion a f n recever channging New satellite that satellite which satellite and give me frequancy and some informetion i am Ali from KuwaitMichaelSaturday 23 July 2011 2:27PM
As well as Rupert Murdoch's Phone hacking scandal they now want to investigate why BskyB is blocking many commercial TV companies from broadcasting for free.
Unless you pay a fortune and have a plastic card - you can't watch most of the channels.
OFCOM are a waste of time and should be disbanded along with the so called competitions commission - they are uselessMichaelSunday 24 July 2011 12:43PM
I have just sent this email to TCM
Turner Movies to all their email addresses world wide New Zealand, Australia, France, Germany, Spain, USA, The Press Office, ASia and the UK that reads as follows:
EMAIL :
Dear Sir,
Can you please explain to me why i have to pay over £300 per year to Rupert Murdoch's BskyB organisation to watch:
Channel 317 TCM
Channel 318 TCM2
Channel 601 Cartoon Network
Channel 602 CNN2
Channel 603 Boomerang
Why do you allow this organisation to encrypt your channels whilst you receive revenue from advertising?
There are millions of ordinary families in the UK that are affected by this?
Your Company has allowed this to continue for many years and it is time that you addressed it!
These channels should be free to view!
Regards,
Michael
Michael: Yes, I agree, Ofcom should investigate why SSSL's contracts have a "no free transmissions" requirement in them. It's clearly a restrictive practice. ALI: You probably want to look at the LyngSat site... MichaelTuesday 26 July 2011 6:55PM
Here is a copy of OFCOM's Email to myself. regarding BskyB not allowing free channels to broadcast on Satellite unless you pay them around £300 per year
(I will leave his name out)
I write with reference to your most recent correspondence regarding Sky TV.
I understand that you have received responses from a number of Ofcom representatives outlining our position on the matter. Whilst we have noted your objection and most recent comments, you do not appear to raise any further issues.
Yours sincerely
I wrote back the following:
Since i last wrote i have changed my computer because of a major failure so i lost the correspondence regarding OFCOMS position with BskyB.
The point is BskyB are stopping free to view chanels from broadcasting on their platform.
UKTV wrote to me to say that channels such Dave etc were free on freeview but they could not broadcast free on Sky and that it was not their fault?
Why is OFCOM allowing BskyB to get away with it?
This is just as corrupt as the phone hacking scandal!
They are holding both the UK public and the Pub licenceing trade to ransome!
The pub licencing trade had to take the case to Europe because OFCOM are failing to address these issues!
Many pubs have to connect to Sky via Italian Sky because of these prices set by BskyB in the UK?
I can't understand why you are being paid by the UK Taxpayers to regulate the likes of this and do absolutely nothing about it?
Why are people being overcharged - some subscriptions top over £1000 per year to an ordinary householder.
Sky charge to record programs via their satellite boxes.
It is rediculous
Regards,
Michael
RichardFriday 29 July 2011 10:46AM
I was abroad in Europe for a week.Irish pubs have Sky Sports,Sky will be pleased to know that the pint glass does appear on the screen,meaning that the domestic rate is being paid.Many non Irish premises also have Sky Sports at the domestic rate.Two Rangers fans oin holiday were so anxious to see Rangers v Hearts game last Saturday that they did so in an Irish pub. They were treated to the tradional Irish hospitaly and told that they would always be welcome.Les NicolFriday 29 July 2011 11:22AM
Richard - Just what is the domestic rate in the country(s) you visited. A bar restaurant I frequent in Spain pays 60 Euros a month - My local village pub was paying 830 pounds pee month and couldn't continue to pay this out. They are now going down an alternative route still paying to do so from another European source. Running the gauntlet of course until a final European Courts decision to be made later this year.RichardFriday 29 July 2011 12:02PM
Les,Sky Sports can only be accessed abroad by obtaining a domestic subscription for an Irish or UK address.The publican uses this in his licensed premises.People in France and Spain have to be begged to take pay tv,hence the low domestic rate25 Euro/month with freebees thrown in.French andSpanish people do not have the same desire to have access to Sport on tv.Stadia in France on the last day of the season were 1/3 full.Les NicolFriday 29 July 2011 12:08PM
Michael & others. Here we go again with -- Formula 1, with BSKYB getting the lions share and the BBC picking up what's left on the table.
As a UK O.A.P still paying a licence fee and with a reasonable fixed income I Like many more (and we do make up the largest demographic group - and growing rapidly - in this country). are unable to consider or maintain the ever increasing hike in subscriptions demanded by this commercial broadcasting "Cartel". Seems like the majority in this Country will continue to be "Shafted" over what's affordable by the minority.
Les NicolFriday 29 July 2011 12:25PM
Richard - the owner of the bar restaurant I frequent was telling me this past April, that the Spanish authorities have stepped back from any restrictive measures to clamp down there. You're not trying to tell me that SKY can't avail themselves of the Technology or the Legal means to take on the use of access outside the UK? It's a financial winner for them in free advertising of their product that impacts on the travelling public and acts as a potential subscriber catch on return to the UK.
RichardFriday 29 July 2011 1:45PM
Sky cannot act as if these were premises in the UK.Factors to be considered,the willingness of law enforcement to get involved,accomodating tourists from Britain and Ireland who contribute to the economy,connections with town hall.Local tv companies avail of Sky to provide cable tv for Irish holiday makers.Skys entry into the Irish market was not licensed or regulated.No vat is paid to the Irish government for Irish subcriptions by Sky,so a company who indulges such practises can expect to be ripped off.They have offered a price freeze to Irish suscribers until end of 08/2013,also Espn is being offered free with Sky Sports.Sky have a lot of yet unresolved issues in Ireland,let them come on and try to bully us as they do to people in Britain,over to you SKY.RichardSaturday 30 July 2011 7:20PM
Is this an attempt by BSKYB to raise money to finance another campaign of harrassment agaist the publicans of Britain?Richard AnscombeSunday 31 July 2011 7:37AM
I have sky HD with sky sports in my main home, I am buying a second home in Devon and would like the same situation in Devon without paying a second subscription!, how do I achieve it ?Les NicolSunday 31 July 2011 11:26AM
Richard Anscombe- I think you will find that were you to notify SKY they would be looking for another subscription. You could of course install a dish having this done by a local rigger and either move your receiver around or buy another. There may be an issue with pairing your card on a second box though.MichaelSunday 31 July 2011 2:27PM
Hi Les, I respect you, you are talking about areas even i did not know.
All i can say is we are being ripped off and OFCOM are useless.
They are sitting there doing nothing as if they are owned by Rupert Murdoch - They are certainly not looking after our best interests.
Here is another one.
I emailed Turner Movies at the following email addresses on Sunday 24th July 2011
to ask them why we have to pay a fortune to watch the TCM Movie Channels on Sky?
tcmmaileurope@turner.com
tcmnordic@turner.com
turnerclassicmovies_asia@turner.com
espctadores@canaltcm.com
tcminfo@turner.com
pressroom@turner.com
zuschauerinfo@turner.com
And not one of these recipients bothered to answer me?MichaelSunday 31 July 2011 2:30PM
This was my exact email to Turner Movies:
Dear Sir,
Can you please explain to me why i have to pay over £300 per year to Rupert Murdoch's BskyB organisation to watch:
Channel 317 TCM
Channel 318 TCM2
Channel 601 Cartoon Network
Channel 602 CNN2
Channel 603 Boomerang
Why do you allow this organisation to encrypt your channels whilst you receive revenue from advertising?
There are millions of ordinary families in the UK that are affected by this?
Your Company has allowed this to continue for many years and it is time that you addressed it!
These channels should be free to view!
Regards,
Michael
MichaelSunday 31 July 2011 2:30PM
This was my exact email to Turner Movies:
Dear Sir,
Can you please explain to me why i have to pay over £300 per year to Rupert Murdoch's BskyB organisation to watch:
Channel 317 TCM
Channel 318 TCM2
Channel 601 Cartoon Network
Channel 602 CNN2
Channel 603 Boomerang
Why do you allow this organisation to encrypt your channels whilst you receive revenue from advertising?
There are millions of ordinary families in the UK that are affected by this?
Your Company has allowed this to continue for many years and it is time that you addressed it!
These channels should be free to view!
Regards,
Michael
Mike LeedhamSunday 31 July 2011 5:20PM
Hi,
Why are we getting weak signal on lots of Freeview stations such as Yesterday etc.
we are getting them every day ?
ITV
BBC
MORE 4
FILM 4
Etc.michael morrisonMonday 1 August 2011 9:59AM
Buckfastleigh can i get hd signal from the buckfastlliegh sub stationjb38Monday 1 August 2011 10:50AM
michael morrison: Yes! on Mux channel 44 with the aerial being mounted vertically, elements top to bottom. RichardMonday 1 August 2011 3:23PM
Those channels Michael has referred to are also offered in pay tv packages in nother Eurpean markets.BBC and ITV are also shareholders in BSKYB and thus are involved in the exploitation of suscribers benefitting from charging rip off prices.lesnicolMonday 1 August 2011 5:20PM
Richard - I am not sure that you are totally correct on this one. It's possible that ITV might be, but I rather think that the BBC's constitution as a Public Service Broadcaster would prohibit this. Unless the BBC's commercial undertaking BBC Worldwide does, but I doubt that as I understand that income here is re-generated back into the BBC's revenues as a whole, Briantist, will likely give a more accurate picture here than I have.RichardMonday 1 August 2011 6:15PM
Iaccept your point les.BBC may benefit from its productions being included in basic package,various programmes ranging from comedy,crime,documentaries etc.Richard: Actually, it is BSkyB that owns part of ITV, not the other way around.
The BBC are certainly not shareholders in BSkyB, the BBC's programmes are broadcast free to air on satellite and the law puts and obligation on BSkyB to list the BBC's channels in their programme guide.
No subscription is required to watch BBC programmes, not ITV programmes, or those from Channel 4 or Channel 5. Richard: You may possibly be confusing BBC Worldwide's part ownership of UKTV, which has about ten channels.
These channels do not belong to Sky, UKTV has to pay Sky to have them included in the programme guide and makes income from the adverts shown on the channels (Dave, Yesterday, G.O.L.D etc). UKTV is not owned in any part by BSkyB. RichardMonday 1 August 2011 9:32PM
I wrongly assumed that BSKYB included other British broadcasters in the company.Does anyone know who holds the 59% of the shares,News International holds 41% according to media reports.Mike Dimmick: UKTV only get a discount on SSSL subscription services, they do not get income from the arrangement. Only non-Sky channels with "premium" subscription arrangements (such as ESPN, Disney) actually get income from the subscription.
This is because the broadcasters are subsidizing the "free dish and box offer", and this was OKed by the courts, as you may recall from when "Rapture TV" took SSSL to court. lesnicolTuesday 2 August 2011 7:51AM
Brian- Thanks, I was aware of the minority shareholding by BSKYB in ITV and the history of attempts to block Virgin by increasing their stake and having to subsequently dispose of the additional shareholding. lesnicol: Yes, that should probably have been addressed to Richard. For the hell of it (and a pound) I've ordered the most recent shares document. BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING LTD - 02906991
5001002 ORDINARY SHARES held as at 22/9/2010
BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC
5001000 ORDINARY SHARED held as at 22/9/2010
BSKYB INVESTMENTS LIMITED
RichardTuesday 2 August 2011 8:39PM
Thanks Briantist I am wondering who those faceless people are who tolerate a member as Chairman whose company News International is a disgrace to journalism.Of course politicans and police were used in their pursuit of control of print and broadcast media.The little people such as a Portsmouth pub landlord are expected to toe the line and pay their extortionate prices regardless of turnover after working all the hours that God sends.Richard: It is probably worth pointing out that the chair of BSkyB has always been a NewsCorp representative, ever since BSkyB Plc was created from the "merger" of BSB and Sky Television. RichardWednesday 3 August 2011 12:21PM
Thanks Briantist it is good to know that News Intrnational have not managed to obtain this position.Richard: News International is wholly owned by NewsCorp and runs newspapers in the UK. It has no direct relationship with BSkyB. RichardWednesday 3 August 2011 9:24PM
Thanks Briantist.Heres a question for you.Which ITV region always had more viewers outside its franchise area?Richard: HTV West always used to have a considerable number of viewers in Wales, because Mendip was a powerful transmitter.
HTV Wales was always watched by people on the north Devon coast, who could not get WestCountry.
TTTV had many "should be YTV" viewers because of the 1969 Emley Moor mast collapse.
Not sure what the official position is today... UThursday 4 August 2011 1:34PM
Not the answer I had in mind.Utv in northern Ireland used to have twice as many viewers in Southern Ireland.This audience was acknowledged by companies from both parts of Ireland targeting this audience.Also competitions are poen to Southern viewers.Southwest coast of Scotland receives transmissions from Divis transmitter.U: I wasn't sure if you were asking in percentage or absolute terms...
UTV has 2.46% of ITV's homes, compared with 18.42% for London, 11.62% for Granada, 10.94% for Central West, 10.09% for Yorkshire. UThursday 4 August 2011 8:01PM
Okay Briantist I accept your point.Heres another question.The longest cable used to relay tv signals for use on a cable tv system was supposed to be, where?This claim was made by a company in the mid 1980s.Where in Europe was this cable in use?snowflakeThursday 4 August 2011 8:33PM
I stopped my sky subscription some time ago but still use the sky box and dish to receive most free channels however, I cannot get itv or channel 5? How do I rectify this? any advice or help would be most welcome as the missus is addicted to Coronation Street nad I am not!
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